A MAJOR blitz on cable thieves disrupting rail services in the Tees Valley was launched today.

Network Rail is offering a reward of up to £1,000 to people who help catch the culprits committing the dangerous offence.

Excluding the summer floods, the theft of copper cable used in railway signaling systems is the single biggest cause of delay to trains in the region and is costing the industry millions of pounds.

Network Rail has been working with British Transport Police (BTP) to prevent cable theft and have now teamed up with Crimestoppers to offer the reward.

Dyan Crowther, route director for Network Rail said: “We are doing everything we can to stop the cable thieves, including increasing dedicated security patrols and investigating the use of technology used by the security services to protect the cable.”

Detective Chief Inspector Danny Snee of British Transport Police said after the threat of terrorism, the theft of cable is one of BTP’s biggest challenges.

“Those who steal cable are not just risking a prison sentence, they are risking their lives,” he warned.

“This is an extremely dangerous crime which is an attack on the community. Passengers are missing holiday flights, hospital appointments and business or social meetings due to the delays caused.

“Those involved can expect us to use every means to target them. BTP have dedicated cable squads that undertake regular operations including round the clock patrols targeted at hotspot crime areas in the Tees Valley.”

Thousands of leaflets and hundreds of posters highlighting the reward are being distributed in hot spot areas in the coming weeks.

Passengers are not put in danger by cable thieves, assured Network Rail. A failsafe system turns all signals to red as soon as a cable is cut.

Anyone who sees people acting suspiciously near tracks can report it immediately and anonymously to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.